Tom Brady’s Former Teammate Had Words After Taking $8 Million Pay Cut

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Elie Deglaoui | Last updated Sep 12, 2025 12:33 PM ET

It has been nearly five years since legendary quarterback Tom Brady led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history, but some of his teammates from that time are still making their presence felt around the NFL. That includes cornerback Jamel Dean, who is in the midst of his seventh season in Tampa Bay.

In 2023, Dean signed a four-year, $52 million contract extension to remain with the Buccaneers. However, the Florida native recently restructured his contract and is set to make roughly $4.25 million this season, according to Spotrac, which is roughly $8 million less than the $12.5 million he was initially set to make. In exchange, Dean will become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

After the news of his decision broke, Dean revealed why he took the pay cut, and he made his feelings on the Buccaneers organization known.

A Florida native, Dean has spent his entire NFL career with the Buccaneers and helped them win a Super Bowl after the 2020 season. He has played 83 games for the Bucs, starting 64, recording 319 tackles, 55 pass deflections, eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

At this point, it is safe to assume he has enjoyed his time in Tampa Bay, and according to Dean himself, he wants to stick around for a little while longer.

After it was announced that he was going to take a pay cut, the 28-year-old made it clear he ultimately wants to stay in Tampa Bay, regardless of the money (h/t Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times).

“It was just more like I’m comfortable here,” Dean said. “So it’s just really not about the money anymore.

“I’m not in the mood to try to figure out a whole new team and city and go through all I went through my rookie year. So just to save me a headache.”

Jamel Dean Can Still Make an Impact in Tampa Bay

It seems that Dean's days in Tampa Bay are numbered, but that does not mean it is too late for him to turn things around.

Though he is a solid cornerback, the Auburn Tigers alum has missed nine total games in the last two seasons. Additionally, Tampa Bay has other intriguing cornerbacks on the team, such as Zyon McCollum, Benjamin Morrison and Jacob Parrish. However, Dean looked good in the team's Week 1 victory against the Atlanta Falcons.

It may be tough for Dean to establish himself as a long-term contributor in Tampa Bay, but it is clear that he enjoys being a part of the team. If he continues to perform well, the Buccaneers may have to rethink moving on from him after this season.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: